INTERVIEW: Madison Margot on new single 'If We Fall', heartbreak & sexism: "Women are the most creative and powerful creatures on the planet, we don’t get the respect or acknowledgment we deserve"
Madison Margot has been releasing music since 2017 and in 2020 launched her debut album The Chronicles Of Lovers which has accumulated over 150k global streams to date. Originally from Los Angeles and now based in London, Margot has collaborated with A-list producers including Kyle Shearer (Dua Lipa, Melanie Martinez) and Chris Jones (The Chainsmokers) to create an impressive collection of music which ranges from carefree electro-based pop through to heartfelt piano ballads.
Late last year she released her new single ‘If We Fall’. The song is a gorgeously dreamy, understated track which wraps itself around you like a comforting hug. There is a gentle but insistent beat, a soundscape that on first impression is simple but grows more and more multi-layered and fascinating the more you listen and Margot’s calm and nuanced vocal which carries just the right level of hope, longing and resignation to tell the story. “This song is about having an intense crush on someone and wanting them to give in and fall for you. Knowing you would give them everything, but not even that is convincing enough,” she says.
Margot has a talent to mix things up completely, from dance floor ready pop to emotive and honest ‘grown up’ pop music and she is an artist you should put on your ‘favourite new pop star’ list now. We recently caught up with her to find out more about her music and career.
Hey Madison! It is an absolute pleasure to talk to you today. How is life in your world at the moment?
Hello! Thank you for the interview! Life has been wonderful yet unpredictable. I’m excited about so many things, but I’m also dodging Covid every single day. I can’t wait for the day where all of this is under control and we can go back to some normality. Until then, I will continue to live in my mask and get all the boosters necessary!
Congratulations on the release of your single ‘If We Fall’ which was out last year. It is a gorgeously dreamy track, you have said it is about having ‘an intense crush’ on someone, can you tell us a little bit more about the inspiration for the song?
Thank you so much! This song has been one of my favorites for years now. I wrote it in 2019 on my piano. I was in my final semester of college and there was someone in my class who I was pining after. This song is a beautiful proclamation. It’s trying to convince the person to just completely give in: “If we fall, your cup will overrun, a sea-full of what you want, I’ll love you like the divine.” It was an easy song to write because it just poured out of me. From the very first line to the very last.
As you said you wrote the track back in college, how did it develop from that original piano track to the single that was released almost three years after its creation?
The creative process was very simple and pretty international. I wrote it by myself in Los Angeles, Tone Def (Santana, Charli Adams) produced it in Nashville, I recorded the vocal in London, and then I filmed the music video in Paris! It took me a day to write the song, but it took over two years to release. Being an independent artist means that you have to fund all of your projects yourself. I have to save up money in order to get my songs completed, so there is often a big gap from when I write a song to when it comes out.
The beautiful music video was filmed in Paris - why did you decide on Paris and what was the filming experience like?
I’ve always wanted to film a music video in Paris, it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I knew that this song was the perfect fit. It’s a song about love, unrequited love, but still love. And why not film it in the city of love? I’m so happy with how it turned out.
You now live in London after relocating from Los Angeles. What was the decision behind this and how do you think the move affects your creativity?
Luckily I get to have both worlds! I fly back-and-forth often throughout the year and it keeps me so inspired. Los Angeles is home and I love it, but I knew that I wanted to experience something new. London has given me a pep in my step that I’ll forever have! The city is grand and there is so much to explore. The world is so big and I believe that we should see as much of it as possible.
You released your debut album The Chronicles of Lovers in 2020 and it is a beautiful mix of electropop and moving ballads. What was it like to create your very first body of work?
Thank you for saying that! I love those songs so much. The other day I was listening to them and really appreciating them. It was amazing to create my first body of work because it was my first major accomplishment. I had so many ideas for it and it honestly turned into everything I wanted and more. It was many years of working and saving money to invest into my music. Many years of doubt and anxiety transformed into fulfilment. Heartbreak turned into healing. It was the first time I really saw my dreams come to life and I hope for many more moments like that.
What is the main story, or message, you want your music to convey?
I want my music to provoke emotion. I write songs to be listened to - not to be talked over or heard once. I want people to hear my lyrics and relate to them. To feel them. We live in a culture that is always looking for the next thing, so I understand that my music might not be a TikTok hit! But I hope I can one day find an audience who is willing to take the time to dive in.
What role did music have in your childhood?
Music was always an outlet for me. I loved writing songs because it always gave me a feeling of relief. Whatever I was going through, I knew I could write a song about it. I was lucky to have that growing up.
How did your career in music come about? What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
A lot of persistence went into getting me where I am today. But I am still nowhere near where I want to be! I’ve been doing this my whole life and the small wins are what keeps me moving along. Whether it’s making a music video or getting featured on a cool playlist. It excites me and fuels my hope. There is an unrest in me when it comes to music and I want to always keep that alive.
Traditionally the music industry has not been a particularly safe space for female artists, mainly because it has been run by older, white, straight men for so long. What are your thoughts on gender equality and sexism in the music industry?
I have a Bachelors degree in Gender and Women’s Studies, so this conversation is very important to me! There aren’t enough female dominated spaces in music. Engineers, producers, directors, etc. are mostly men and I have found it uncomfortable entering into those male-dominated spaces. From the engineer hitting on me during a session, to the executive who is shocked that I could write a complete song by myself on a guitar. I believe that we need to make an effort to find the women working in those jobs and hire them. I made a vow that I would only ever work with female directors for my music videos. I also found an amazing female engineer in London who I love working with. Actively searching for women in the industry will create more opportunities for us. I also find it to be way more comfortable working with women. There is an understanding and bond that can be quite freeing. Not worrying about a male gaze or an unsolicited opinion stemming from dominance. Women are the most creative and powerful creatures on the planet. We don’t get the respect or acknowledgment we deserve, but working together will get us far.
What is coming up for Madison Margot in 2022?
I’m so excited for this new year! I am going to give my music my all. Really push myself into new things! I have a few shows in the works and new music coming out very soon. I hope to look back on 2022 and be so proud of myself.
‘If We Fall’ is out now. You can download on iTunes and stream on Apple Music and Spotify.
To keep up with all things Madison Margot you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
